When summertime is in full swing, finding more time to rest, recharge and connect with your nearest and dearest comes naturally. Currently, you can thank the sun’s time in heartfelt, family-oriented Cancer for that vibe. Yet, you could very well be feeling the pull to ensure that your professional and public life is on track, as well. How can you get clear on and achieve your big picture goals, earn recognition and get more grounded? That’s the effect of the full moon in Capricorn, the pragmatic cardinal earth sign that sits opposite Cancer.
Reaching its peak power on Thursday, July 10 at 4:37 p.m. ET/1:37 p.m. PT, the Capricorn full moon is ruled by Saturn, the planet of hard work, commitment and boundaries. While Cancer is known for its nurturing, sentimental and sensitive nature, Capricorn is practical, rational, goal-oriented, measured and wise. In turn, this full moon is a time to strike a balance between feelings and facts and to get clear on what you can release in order to more effectively reach the peak of a particular mountain you’ve had your sights set on. It’s also an opportunity to work through challenging emotions in a logical, clear-headed way. Yet, with a fiery Mercury retrograde on the horizon, you’ll do well to prepare yourself for crossed wires. Here, all you need to know about this intense astrological event so you can make the most of it.
Annually, July—the month brought to you by the heartfelt cardinal water sign Cancer and the dynamic fixed fire sign Leo—offers the chance to get cozy with your loved ones and step up your sense of self. And in 2025, July sets the stage for connection, introspection and major change. A few important days to highlight […]
What is a full moon?
Full moons happen once — less frequently, twice — per month when the moon and the sun are positioned opposite one another in the sky and in the zodiac. Because they’re sitting opposite one another, the sun’s blinding light reflects off of the moon, leading to an often jaw-dropping spectacle in the night sky. During a full moon, the moon illuminates the sky more than any other time in the lunar cycle. For that reason, astrologically speaking, it is a moment during which it feels like your most passionate emotions have been cranked up to the nth degree. And as the sun opposite moon dynamic also mirrors an amplified focus on partnerships, full moons are made for reflecting — and taking action — on matters of the heart.
You can work with this energy for four days before and after the event occurs. In astrology, the moon rules our emotions, intuition and nurturing style. And when it’s full, all of those aspects of our inner life are amplified. You could feel particularly sensitive, empathic, fired up or even burned out if an emotional situation has become exhausting. Full moons also present the chance to see how far you’ve come since planting seeds during the new moon that occurred either two weeks (in this case, the June 25 new moon in Cancer) or six months prior (which would be January 11’s new moon in Capricorn).
What is the full moon in Capricorn?
Every month’s full moon presents the chance to acknowledge and process emotional truths, to dive into meaningful inner work and to let go of patterns, habits, relationships or routines that are no longer serving you. However, the Capricorn full moon—aka the Buck Moon, referred to as such because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode this time of year—allows you to do that full moon work in a more down-to-earth, assiduous and even stoic way. Because it is ruled by taskmaster Saturn, the planet that oversees restrictions, boundaries, limitations, rules and regulations as well as good, old-fashioned hard work, Capricorn values taking responsibility and implementing pragmatic structures to achieve practical goals. So, when this full moon makes it impossible to ignore tough feelings, difficult dynamics or challenging situations, Capricorn energy encourages us to do anything other than sit on our hands. Instead, you could be pushed to put your nose to the grindstone, to lay new foundations, to level up, to get organized — in an effort to lay the past to rest and to plow ahead.
You’ll be encouraged to think about how you’ve been stepping up in your life and taking accountability and ways in which you could take on even more — or even let go in order to be even more efficient and productive. Because Capricorn is the sign associated with the Tenth House of Career and Public Image, you could be working through themes like status, recognition and how you’re perceived in the public sphere.
Annually, Cancer season offers up an opportunity to check in with your heart, nurture your closest bonds, tend to your home life and revel in the magic of early summertime with your nearest and dearest. It’s a season ruled by the moon, which, in astrology, oversees emotions, intuition, instincts and how we care for others […]
The 2025 Capricorn full moon helps you channel your emotions into action.
Because the full moon sits at 18 degrees of Capricorn, and Mars, the planet of energy and take-charge, go-getter moves, is in fellow earth sign Virgo at 13 degrees, the two will have just formed a harmonious trine ahead of this dynamic lunar event. In turn, you could feel especially fired up to make courageous, bold moves, to act on behalf of your inner fire and to be more assertive in pursuing your desires.
During the 2025 Capricorn full moon, you’ll be compelled to look back in order to move forward.
This full moon occurs just ahead of two key retrogrades that will require that you tie up loose ends ahead of stepping into the ideal future all this Capricorn energy is vying for. On Saturday, July 12 (PT)/Sunday, July 13 (ET), Saturn, the ruler of this full moon, will go retrograde in Aries, kicking off several months of self-reflection around how you’ve been taking responsibility and laying key foundations. And less than a week later, on Thursday, July 17 (PT)/Friday, July 18 (ET), Mercury, the planet of information, will go retrograde in Leo, asking you to go inward to think about themes like self-image, confidence and self-expression. In other words, slowing down and looking in the rearview now will make it possible to ultimately, fully step into a fulfilling new beginning.
Here, how the Capricorn full moon of 2025 will affect you based on your sign. (Be sure to read both your sun and your rising sign if you know it. If you don’t, you can find it in your birth chart or by using this CafeAstrology calculator.)
Aries
saenal78/Getty
Your big picture professional goals are very much on your mind in the days surrounding this full moon, because it’s happening in your career zone. Whether you want to throw your hat in the ring for a leadership position, propose an ambitious project to higher-ups or seek greater recognition for putting your nose to the grindstone, you could be downright restless about making concrete strides. Because the moon will have just formed a harmonious trine to your ruler, Mars, in your daily routine zone, you’ll do well to pinpoint practical, everyday ways you can work toward your ambitious endgame.
With this full moon falling in your adventure sector, you could feel unusually fired up to step out of your comfort zone and to prioritize eye-opening experiences, whether related to travel, meeting new people or picking up skills outside of your typical wheelhouse. With Mercury about to go retrograde in your home zone, your sense of security is also very much on your mind, so consider carving out time to reflect on how higher education or working with a mentor moving forward could promote personal growth and bolster your emotional well-being.
Your closest, most deeply emotional bond is very much your focus right now as this full moon activates your intimacy sector. You could be grappling with new ways to invest, save or work with your partner or a loved one to achieve an aspiration that you both hold dear. The thing is that concrete information can be tougher to pin down now, because your ruling planet, messenger Mercury, is about to go retrograde in your communication sector. For that reason, making a point to tune even more closely into your intuition is the key to navigating this potentially emotional moment.
Your one-on-one relationships — whether romantic, platonic or professional — are weighing on your mind and your heart now, thanks to the moon lighting up your partnerships sector. You could feel like you’re carrying a greater mental or emotional load than someone else, reciprocity is off in another way or you’re not being recognized and appreciated for everything you’ve been bringing to the table. The good news is that you can harness the pragmatic energy of this lunar event to voice your needs and hear others out on theirs. Heart-to-hearts get a boost from the moon’s harmonious angle to go-getter Mars in your communication zone.
With this full moon falling in your daily routine and health zone, you can look forward to adopting a new perspective on a wellness concern or stressful situation tied to your everyday hustle. You’ve been pushing so hard to come to a resolution, and now, you may realize you’ll do best to let go and see what happens without attempting to maintain control. While it may not be as innate for you, a slower, more hands-off approach can minimize stress and benefit your mind, body and well-being, given that messenger Mercury about to go retrograde in your sign.
Falling in your romance and self-expression sector, this full moon could have you feeling grouchy and frustrated that you’ve been putting life, fun, spontaneity, creativity and playfulness with a partner or loved ones on the backburner for work. If this is the case, own these feelings and then channel your cerebral energy toward designing a practical solution, like finally saying “no” to commitments that aren’t breeding the rewards you deserve. Bonus: Because the moon connects positively to go-getter Mars in your sign, your passionate, bold, assertive side is even more accessible now.
Cue the drama with loved ones or related to your home itself in the days around this full moon, because it activates your inner life and family sector. If there are unresolved emotional issues you’ve been brushing under the rug or it’s finally time to have that daunting heart-to-heart with a family member, this lunar event is going to amplify your sense of urgency — and lead to necessary action. And because taskmaster Saturn is about to go retrograde in your partnership zone, you’ll do well to reflect on the work you’ve been putting in within your one-on-one bonds, as giving yourself a reality check on that could lead to feeling even more supported by a loved one, significant other or dear friend.
Occurring in your communication zone, this full moon cranks up your mental energy, curiosity and need to flit from one thing to the next, whether that’s chores, meetings, get-togethers with friends or appointments. In turn, you could feel like you’re on information overload and a bit drained. This could be a sign it’s time to delegate tasks to other people or be more realistic about exactly how much time you have to dedicate to certain commitments. Because the moon harmonizes with your co-ruler, dynamic Mars, in your long-term wishes zone, using big picture goals as a north star can help you make the most of this moment.
Falling in your money zone, this full moon spurs epiphanies tied to your self-worth and values. You could be realizing that the ways in which you’re bringing your skills to the table on the job simply aren’t aligned with what’s in your heart or that you need certain benefits and rewards to better mirror what you know you deserve. Speaking up about these realizations could come more easily than ever, too, because the moon syncs with go-getter Mars in your career zone. Meeting with a higher-up and being more assertive about your needs and aspirations could make for better results than you imagined.
Welcome to your annual full moon, Capricorn! You could be feeling especially sensitive — even rundown and exhausted physically and emotionally. But you’re also being nudged to stand more self-assuredly in your beliefs, goals, perspective and sense of self. This full moon was wired for helping you let go of whatever is holding you back from feeling more empowered and aligned with your path. With the moon forming a harmonizing angle to dynamic Mars in your adventure and higher learning sector, you’ll be motivated to first, work through whatever challenging emotions are coming up for you, and then, make unapologetically bold moves that can lead to personal growth.
This lunar event lands in your spirituality sector, encouraging you to check in with yourself and be real about how you’ve been nurturing your mental and emotional wellness. If you’ve been putting off healing old emotional wounds or addressing underlying feelings like burnout or boredom, this full moon will motivate you to acknowledge what’s going on and take definitive action. Because the full moon occurs just ahead of Mercury going retrograde in your partnership zone, leaning on a significant other, loved one or dear friend for guidance and support could be especially rewarding.
Falling in your friendships zone, this full moon has you reflecting on the groups and communities you’ve been a part of. You could realize that you’re not exactly on the same page as a particular circle of friends or that you’d like to join a team effort to feel like something bigger than yourself. Because this sector also oversees long-term wishes, you can also reflect on the best route to achieving a lifelong dream. With Mercury about to go retrograde in your routine sector, you can tap into your intuition to get a sense of adjustments you can make to your everyday schedule that will make it easier to work toward these bigger picture aspirations.
